Wedge-secured door latch



May 14, 1929. s, J, BOYD 1,713,253

WEDGE SECURED DOOR LATCH Filed March '7, 1928 F/Ql v FIGZ 31 amp 8 a H M m. 2 F/G..4

l m'"' a INVENTOR 3a 3 W M A V -S.J. BOYD 4'; I ""11: 41 M M v ATTORNEYS Patented May 14, 1929.

smear; J. BOYD, OI'LOS mamas, cannroama.

WEDGE-SECURED DOOB- LATGH.

-App1ication filed larch 7, 1928. Serial No. 259,878.

This invention relates to door catches and has for an object the provision of a door catch capable of locking the door not only agalnst swinging upon its hinges but also against ver-' tical movement within the associated jamb.

A more detailed object is the provislon of a door latch particularly adapted for use upon automobile doors, where n the bolt is provided with means for effecting its expansion after the bolt has been extended, so as to establish tight contact between the bolt and the associated bolt catch to preclude the possibility of vibration of the door w1th1n the jamb. r

Another object is the provision of a door catch as above described, which is of a compact nature and of relatively few component parts, inexpensive to manufacture of rugged construction and simple and efiicient in its operation. I

The invention possesses other ob]ects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may ado t variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation of a part of an automobile body with a portion thereof broken away to reveal one of my improved latches mounted thereupon.

Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, the plane of section bemg taken upon the line 22 of Figure 1 in the direction of the arrows, and showing the bolt in extended position.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View, the plane of section being taken upon the line 3-3 of Figure 2 in the direction of the arrows. a

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Figure 3, showing the bolt in retracted position.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of the latch on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows.

In terms of broad inclusion my invention comprises a door latch, wherein the bolt is split longitudinally to provide a lurality of sect1ons. Means are interposed etween the bolt sections for expanding the bolt when in extended position so as to establish tight contact of the bolt within the associated bolt catch, thus securing the door not only against movement upon its hinges out of the associated jamb but also against vertical movement within the amb.

In greater detail the present embodiment of my improved door latch is shown mounted upon the door 6 of an automobile 7 to releasa ly retain the door 6 closed within the 'amb 8. A housing 9 for the latch is provide and this housing ma either be mounted upon the surface of the oor as shown in Figure 2 or countersunk therein so as to lie flush with the door and permit the upholstery of the vehicle to be placed thereover.

The latch bolt comprises preferably a pair of sections 11 which are of such width that when placed side to side their combined width is substantiallyequal to the inside width of the housing 9. The forward end 13 of each of the bolt sections 11 is of reduced width permitting the two sections to project through an aperture 14 in the forward end of the housing 9, a shoulder 16 on each of the bolt sections 11 limiting their movement outwards through the aperture 14;.

The bolt sections 11 are retained in lateral alignment by a pin 17 which is slidable within an aperture 18 in each of the forward ends 13 of the bolt sections 11. Thus it may be seen that the bolt sections 11 are held against longitudinal movement in respect to each other, but are permitted to move laterally away from and toward each other.

The adjacent sides 21 of the bolt sections 11 are tapered from a point 22 near the ends 13 thereof to the after ends 22, to provide a wedge-shaped recess 23 therebetween for the reception of a wedge 24. The wedge 24 is retained against lateral displacement from the bolt sections 11 by being provided with a dovetail 26 on each side thereof slidably disposed within a complementary groove 27 in each of the bolt sections 11. This construction makes it possible for the wedge 24 to slide longitudinally of the bolt sections 11 to force them apart, but prevents lateral displacement of the wedge.

A coil spring 31 is under compression between each of the bolt sections 11 and the after end of the housing 9 to urge the bolt into extended position. Another coil spring 32 is under compression between the wedge 24 and the after end of the housing to normally retain the wedge in that position in which it separates the bolt portions 11.

Means are provided for withdrawing the wedge 24 and the bolt sections 11. A shaft 33 is mounted for rotary movement in the outer face of the housing 9; and an operating handle 34 is rigidly carried b the outer end of the shaft 33, whereby the s aft may be-rotated. A lever 36 is rigidly mounted upon the inner end of the shaft 33 and a link 37 is pivoted at one end to the outer end of the lever 36, as by a pivot pin 38, and at the other end to the wedge 24, as by a pivot pin 39, making it possible to withdraw the wedge 24 by turning the operating handle 34.

A lug 41 extends laterally from the outer face of each of the bolt sections; and an arm 42 rigid with the Wedge 24 extends over each of the bolt sections 11 in position to engage both of the lugs 41 when the wedge 24 is withdrawn. However, the lugs 41 and the arm 42 are so spaced as to permit a predetermined degree of withdrawal of the wedge before withdrawal of the bolt is commenced. As a result, the bolt is permitted to collapse; i. e., the sections 11 are permitted to move toward each other a short distance before being withdrawn.

A bolt catch 46 is adapted to be secured to the jamb 8 in any convenient manner, such as screws 47 extending therethrough' into the jamb. The bolt catch 46 is provided with a socket 48 for the reception of the ends 13 of the bolt sections 11. The proportionate size and arran ement of the parts are such that when the olt is collapsed it can be moved freely into the socket 48, but when the wedge 24 is driven home between the bolt sections the outer sides of the ends 13 will be pressed firmly into contact with the sides of the socket 48. As a result, when the wedge 24 is thus driven home the door 6 is secured against vertical movement within the jamb 8 as well as against movement on its hinges out of the jamb.

The operation of my improved wedge lock door latch is substantially as follows:

When the door is closed the bolt should be' withdrawn by turning the operating handle 34 backwards. When the door has reached a closed position the handle 34 may be released permitting the coil springs 31 to press the bolt sections 11 into extended position so that the ends 13 thereof protrude into the socket 8 of the bolt catch 46. The spring 32 will cause the wedge 24 to follow the bolt sections 11 as they move and after the outward movement of the bolt sections 11 has been stopped by engagement of the shoulders 16 with the housing, the wedge 24 will force the bolt sections 11 apart so as to take up all play between the ends 13 and the sides of the socket 48. Withdrawal of the bolt to permit opening the door may be effected by turning the handle 34 backwards, which, through the en agement of the lever 36 and the link 37 with tie wedge 24, will pull the wedge backwards. The first movement of the wedge will permit the bolt sections 11 to move toward one another to collapse the bolt. Oontinued movement of the wedge will cause the engagement of the arm 42 with the lugs 41 to retract the bolt sections against the action of the springs 31 and permit the ends 13 to clear the bolt catch 46.

I claim:

1. In combination, a door latch ada ted to be secured to a door and a bolt catch aving a socket therein and adapted to be secured to the associated jamb, said latch ineluding a bolt split longitudinally into a pair of sections, means for extending the bolt, a wedge interposed between the bolt sections, means for moving the wedge to separate the extended bolt sections and establish tight contact of the bolt within the socket, means for withdrawing the wedge and bolt, a lug on each of said bolt sections, and an'arm rigid with the wedge adapted to engage said ln s and withdraw the bolt as the wedge is wit drawn.

2. In combination, a door latch adapted to be secured to a door and abolt catch havin a socket therein and adapted to be secured to t e associated jamb, said latch including a bolt split longitudinally into a pair of sections,

means for extending the bolt, a wedge interposed between the bolt sections, means for moving the wed e to separate the extended bolt sections an establish tight contact of the bolt within the socket, means for withdrawing the wedge and bolt, a lug on each of said bolt sections, and an arm rigid with the wedge adapted to engage said lugs and withdraw the bolt as the wedge is withdrawn, said sections and arm being spaced to permit a predetermined degree of withdrawal of the wedge before the bolt is withdrawn.

3. In combination, a door latch adapted to be secured to a'door and a bolt catch having a socket therein and adapted to be secured to the associated jamb, said latch including a housing, a bolt slidably mounted within said housing and split longitudinally into a pair of sections, a spring under compression between said housing and each of said bolt sections urgin said bolt sections into position with an end of each extended through a wall of the housing, a wedge interposed between said bolt sections, a spring interposed between the housing and said wedge urging said wedge longitudinally of the bolt to se arate the sections thereof, a shaft mounted fbr rotary movement in a wall of the housing, an operating handle carried by said shaft exteriorly of the housing, a lever carried by said shaft within the housing, a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever and at the housing, an operating cured to the associated 'a'mb, said latch including a housing, a bot slidably mounted within said housing and split longitudinally into a pair of sections, a spring under compression between .said housin and each of said bolt sections urging said bolt "sections into vposition with an end of each extended through a wall of the housing, a wedge interposed between said bolt sections, a spring 1 interposed between the housin V and said wedge urging said wedgelongitudinallyofthe bolt to separate the sections thereof, a shaft mounted for rotary movement in a wall of the handle carried by said shaft exteriorly of t e housing, a lever carried by said shaft within the housing, a link pivotally connected at one end to said lever and at the other end to the wedge, whereby the wedge may be withdrawn when the shaft is turned, a lug projecting from each of said bolt sections, and an arm\ carried by said wedge adapte d toengage the lugs when the wedge is withdrawn, said lugs and arm beingspacedto ermit a predetermined de ree of withdrawa of the wedge before the bolt is withdrawn.

5. In combination, a latch and a. bolt catch having a socket therein, said latch compris ing a housing and'a plurality of bolt sections slidable therein to optionally withdraw or extend one end of each section from the housing into said socket, and means for moving said sections 0 tionall toward or from each other in para lelpat s of motion when said ends are extended into said socket.

- 6. In combination, a latch and a bolt catch having a socket therein, said latch comprising a housin and a plurality of boltv sections slidable t erein to optionally withdraw or extend one end of each section from the housing into said socket, a wedge disposed between said sections, and means for sliding said wedge longitudinally in respect to said sections to optionally separate the sections or permit them to approach each other in parallel paths of motion.

7. In combination, a latch and a bolt catch having a socket therein, said latch comprising a housing and a plurality of bolt sections slidable therein to optionally withdraw or extend one end of each section from the housing into said socket, a wed e disposed between said sections, means or sliding said wedge longitudinally in respect to said sections to optionally separate the sections or permit them to approacheach other in paral paths of motion, and means associated with said wedge for withdrawing said bolt sections from the socket after the wedge has been moved out of separating position.

8. In combination, a latch and a bolt catch having a socket therein, said latch comprising a housing and a plurality of bolt sections slidable therein to optionally'withdraw or extend one end of each section from the housing into said socket, a'wedge disposed between sa d sections, means or sliding said wedge longitudinally in respect .to said sections to optionally separate the sections or permit them to approach each other in parallel (paths of motion, means associated with sai wedge for withdrawing said bolt sections from the socket after the wedge has been moved out of separating position, means urgv ing said bolt sectionsto extended position, and means'urging. said wedge to separating positiorh.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificatioh.

I s. J. OYD. 

